Tool washing machine



Dec. 17, 1968 J. PAIVA TOOL WASHING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec.9, 1966 m /V m a M NW Dec. 17, 1968 J. PAIVA TOOL WASHING MACHINE 2Sheets-Sheet B Filed Dec.

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Joseph Paiva INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,416,544 TOOL WASHING MACHINE Joseph Paiva, 6260Woodleaf, Star Rte., Oroville, Calif. 95965 Filed Dec. 9, 1966, Ser. No.600,421 14 Claims. (Cl. 134102) The instant invention is concerned witha device for cleaning tools, machine parts, and the like, and moreparticularly relates to a device wherein the object can be subjected toa pressurized solvent bath.

It is a primary object of the instant invention to provide a toolwashing machine which consists of an enlarged washing tank wherein thetool or item to be washed can be subjected to .both a general solventspray or bath, and a selective pressurized cleaning.

In conjunction with the above object, it is a significant object of theinstant invention to provide a washin machine wherein the tool beingwashed can be physically manipulated through selected access ports whichenable the use of the device to physically grip and wash the tool whilestanding adjacent the exterior of the tank.

In addition, it is a significant object of the instant invention toprovide a washing tank incorporating an enlarged viewing window so as toenable the user of a device to view, and thereby better perform thewashing operation. I

Furthermore, it is a significant object of the instant invention toutilize, in addition to a full length spraying unit within the tank, aseparate hand held solvent spray gun which is insertable into the tankthrough the hand access ports.

Also, it is an object of the instant invention to provide a washing tankwherein the solvent is continually recirculated and filtered throughremovable filtering units.

Further, it is a significant object of the instant invention to providea tool washing machine which is of a simple, compact, and economicalmanufacture, while at the same time being particularly unique inconstruction.

Basically, in order to achieve the above objects, it is intended thatthe washing machine of the instant invention include an elongatedrectangular tank having an access door defined along the top thereof andselectively closed by a transparent plastic lid. In addition, the frontwall of the tank is provided with a pair of spaced flexible flapprotected hand access ports to enable the user of the device to inserthis hands within the tank in a protected manner so as to prevent anydischarge of the solvent through the ports. Within the tank, the tool tobe washed is subjected to a spray by means of a spray unit including afull length pressurized air manifold having a plurality of dischargenozzles spaced along the length thereof, and a full length solventmanifold positioned immediately below and forward of the air manifoldand communicated with each of the air nozzles by individual tubeswhereby the air rushing through the nozzles will create a partial vacuumso as to draw the solvent upwardly into the nozzles for dischargetherefrom with the pressurized air. In addition, a spray gun is alsoprovided with the gun being flexibly tethered for introduction througheither of the hand ports for a manual manipulation of the gun, this gunalso being directly communicated with the solvent receiving portion ofthe interior of the tank and the source of pressurized air so as toeffect a controlled discharge of the solvent. Finally, the solventwithin the tank is to be recirculated, and as such, the bottom of thetank has a solvent directing and filtering floor therein whereby aneffective filtering of the solvent is provided for during the recyclingthereof.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter de- 3,416,544 Patented Dec. 17, 1968scribed and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawingsforming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like partsthroughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the tool Washing machine comprisingthe instant invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially on theplane passing along line 22 in FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially on aplane passing along line 33 in FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on a planepassing along line 44 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional detail through the air and solventmanifold illustrating the nozzle association therewith; and

FIGURE 6 is a schematic perspective view of the flow lines for the airand solvent.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral 10 isused to generally designate the tool washing machine comprising theinstant invention. The machine 10 includes an enlarged washing tank 12mounted in an elevated position upon four depending legs 14 havingcaster wheels 16 affixed to the lower end thereof so as to introduce adegree of mobility into the unit 10.

The tank 12 includes a vertical front wall 18, a vertical rear wall 20of a greater height than the front wall 18, two vertical side walls 22,a funnel-shaped bottom 24 and a top wall 26 consisting basically of ahorizontal ledge 28 and an inclined pivotally mounted access panel ordoor 30. The bottom 24 converges downwardly to a centrally locateddrainage hole 32 which is selectively closed by a removable plug 34. Ahorizontal support floor is provided within the tank 12 immediatelyabove the converging sides of the bottom 24 so as to define in effect asolvent storage tank between the floor 36 and the bottom 24. This floor36 includes a central rigid imperforate support panel 3-8 and a pair offilter units 40 to each side thereof. The floor panel 38 and the units40, as will be appreciated from FIGURE 3, span the tank from the frontwall 18 to the rear wall 20. Each of the filter units 40 consists ofthree removable elements, a lower heavy screen 42, an intermediatefilter 44 of any suitable type, and a lighter upper screen 46. It iscontemplated that all of the liquid utilized in the washing process willdrain through the filter units 40 into the solvent tank therebelow forsubsequent re-use, with the filter units 40 straining or filtering alarge percentage of the impurities therefrom. The removable nature ofthe filter units 40 enables their ready removal as needed for cleaningor replacement.

The objects to be washed are introduced into the tank 12 through theenlarged full length slightly inclined door 30 which, when closed,sealingly engages an enlarged gasket 48 locked within a channel-definingflange integrally formed from the top edges of the front and side walls18 and 22. This door 30 is to be transparent in nature, formed of asuitable high impact plastic or the like whereby the user of the device10 can observe the cleaning procedure taking place Within the tank 12. Asuitable hooded venting stack 52 is mounted on the horizontal ledge 28of the top wall 26 and is .communicated within the interior of the tank12 for a venting of the fumes therefrom. Incidentally, as will be notedfrom the drawings, the door 30 is provided with a suitable handle 54 soas to facilitate the raising and closing thereof.

Direct access to the interior of the tank 12, by the user of the device,is provided for by means of a pair of access ports 56 through the frontwall 18 in laterally spaced relation to each other. Each of the ports 56includes a radially split curtain 58 of a suitable solvent resistiveresilient material, such as rubber, which will snugly conform to anyarticle introduced therethrough and immediately close upon a retractionof the article.

It is contemplated that the cleaning operation is to consist of thesubjecting of the tool or machine part to a pressurized flow of solvent,this pressurized flow of solvent consisting of either the introductionof a spray along the full length of the tank or a specific directing ofa limited discharge of the solvent through a hand manipulated gun-likedevice 60. In order to effect a spraying of the solvent along the fulllength of the tank, a first elongated pressurized air manifold 62 ismounted along the top 26 of the tank just to the rear of the hinged edgeof the door. This air manifold 62 includes, at spaced intervals alongthe length thereof, a plurality of forwardly and downwardly directeddischarge nozzles 64, each of which is in turn communicated, by a hollowtube 66, with a solvent manifold 68 paralleling the air manifold 62immediately forward and below the air manifold 62. The air manifold 62is in direct communication, through an on-off valve type switch 70 andan air line 72, with any appropriate source of pressurized air, whilethe solvent manifold 68 is directly communicated, through a pair ofsolvent lines 74, with the solvent receiving area of the tank 12 belowthe filtering floor 36. In this manner, as pressurized air is introducedinto the air manifold 62 and discharged through the nozzles 64 therein,a partial vacuum is created so as to draw the solvent through thesolvent lines 74 and into the solvent manifold 78 for subsequentintroduction into the nozzles through the communicating tubes 66 wherebya forceful discharge of the solvent in conjunction with the pressurizedair is effected.

The gun-like solvent dispensing device 60 consists of a hand heldimplement which is of a size so as to enable it to be introduced throughone of the ports 56 and held within the hand of the user of the devicefor a selective directing of a pressurized solvent discharge at the toolor part being washed. This device 60 also includes an air line 76directly communicating with the air line 72 and the solvent line 78 incommunication with the interior of the tank 12 below the filtering floor36 with the discharge of pressurized air through the device 60 and thecomrningling of the pressurized air and solvent being effected throughthe utilization of a trigger type valve, common in various types ofspraying guns.

It is contemplated that the air line 72 also includes an off-on controltherein, this being in the nature of a foot pedal device 80 which willenable the user of the tank 12 to control the flow of solvent with hisfoot, this being highly desirable so as to allow the user to work withboth hands within the tank 12 and still instantaneously control the flowof the fluid. With reference to FIGURE 1, it will be noted that suitablebrackets 82 and 84 have been provided for both the foot pedal control 80and the hand gun 60 so as to allow for a mounting of these parts whennot in use. Also, it should be appreciated that a suitable wheel lock isto be associated with one or more of the caster wheels 16 so as to allowfor a complete stabilization of the device 10 during the use thereof.

In operation, the tool or machine part to be cleaned is introduced intothe tank through the transparent lid after which the tool is subjectedto either or both a general or a selective discharge of solvent,utilizing the overhead spray system or the spray gun 60. The solventsubsequently drains through the side located filtering units to the tankbelow the floor 36 for recirculation through the spraying apparatus withthe tool being manipulated as required by the users hands insertedthrough the protected access ports 56. It will be appreciated that thesolid rigid central portion 38 of the floor 36 provides a stable basefor the tool itself during the washing operation with the solventfalling thereon immediately draining to the opposite side thereof forpassage to the filtering units 40. After the cleaning operation, thefiltering units can be easily raised from the supporting ledges uponwhich they are positioned and removed from the tank 12 for a washing ofthe impurities therefrom. By the same token, any solvent remaining inthe tank 12 which is considered too dirty for re-use, can be quicklydrained from the tank through the drainage hole 32 in the funnelshapedbottom thereof. Incidentally, while the term solvent has been usedthroughout the specification, it should be appreciated that this isintended to cover any cleaning liquid, including water.

From the foregoing, it should be appreciated that a unique washing orcleaning machine has been defined, this machine enabling the completecleansing of a tool or the like through a subjecting of the tool to bothan over-all pressurized solvent spray and a selective pressurizedcleansing action as needed. In addition, the machine provides for theuser thereof to insert his hands and arms into the cleaning tank for adirect manipulation of the tool being washed with the user being fullyprotected from otherwise contacting or being splashed by the solventduring the cleaning operation.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling Within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A tool washing machine comprising an enlarged tank including a top,bottom, and front, back and side walls extending vertically between thetop and bottom, a first elongated solvent manifold mounted along theback wall near the top, solvent line means communicating said firstmanifold in liquid transferring relation with the lower interior of thetank, a second elongated manifold mounted on said back wall above andgenerally parallel to the first manifold, a series of lateral dischargenozzles on said second manifold, flow line means extending from saidsecond manifold for communication of said second manifold with a sourceof pressurized fluid for discharge through said nozzles, tube meansextending between said first manifold and each nozzle, said tube meansallowing a drawing of the solvent into the nozzles upon the creation ofa partial vacuum in the nozzles effected by the passage of pressurizedfluid therethrough, and control mean for selectively opening and closingsaid flow line means.

2. The machine of claim 1 wherein a major portion of the top isremovably mounted so as to define an access panel to the interior of thetank, said access panel extending rearwardly from the front wall andbeing transparent.

3. The machine of claim 2 including a pair of access ports through thefront wall, each access port having a resilient split curtainthereacross for allowing limited access therethrough.

4. The machine of claim 3 wherein the bottom of said tank is defined bya plurality of downwardly sloping panels terminating in a central drain,and a horizontal floor overlying said bottom in spaced relationthereabove, said floor consisting at least in part of a solvent passingfilter unit, said solvent line means extending below said floor.

5. The machine of claim 4 wherein said floor includes an imperforatecentral support section with one of said filter units being located toeach side thereof.

6. The machine of claim 5 wherein each filter unit includes upper andlower removable screen panels and an intermediate filter panel.

7. The machine of claim 6 including a solvent discharg ing gun, anelongated flexible solvent line communicating said gun with the lowerinterior of the tank, and an elongated flexible flow line communicatingsaid gun with said flow line means between the control means and saidsecond manifold, said gun being selectively insertable through one ofsaid access ports.

8. The machine of claim 7 including valve means between the flow linemeans and the second manifold for selectively allowing and preventingflow therebetween, and valve means associated with said gun forcontrolling flow therefrom.

9. The machine of claim 8 including storage brackets on the exterior ofsaid tank for said control means and said gun.

10. The machine of claim 1 including a pair of access ports through thefront wall, each access port having a resilient split curtainthereacross for allowing limited access therethrough.

11. The machine of claim 10 including a solvent discharging gun, anelongated flexible solvent line communicating said gun with the lowerinterior of the tank, and an elongated flexible flow line communicatingsaid gun with said flow line means between the control means and saidsecond manifold, said gun being selectively insertable through one ofsaid access ports.

12. The machine of claim 11 wherein said floor includes an irnperforatecentral support section with one of said filter units being located toeach side thereof.

13. The machine of claim 1 wherein the bottom of said tank is defined bya plurality of downwardly sloping panels terminating in a central drain,and a horizontal floor overlying said bottom in spaced relationthereabove, said floor consisting at least in part of a solvent passingfilter unit, said solvent line means extending below said floor.

14. The machine of claim 13 wherein each filter unit includes upper andlower removable screen panels and an intermediate filter panel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,604,895 7/1952 Fechter 134-102XR 2,616,095 11/1952 Stuckey 134-111 XR 2,797,530 7/1957 Garver 134102XR 3,075,646 1/1963 Giesse 134-102 XR ROBERT L. BLEUTGE, PrimaryExaminer.

US. Cl. X.R.

1. A TOOL WASHING MACHINE COMPRISING AN ENLARGED TANK INCLUDING A TOP,BOTTOM, AND FRONT, BACK AND SIDE WALLS EXTENDING VERTICALLY BETWEEN THETOP AND BOTTOM, A FIRST ELONGATED SOLVENT MANIFOLD MOUNTED ALONG THEBACK WALL NEAR THE TOP, SOLVENT LINE MEANS COMMUNICATING SAID FIRSTMANIFOLD IN LIQUID TRANSFERRING RELATION WITH THE LOWER INTERIOR OF THETANK, A SECOND ELONGATED MANIFOLD MOUNTED ON SAID BACK WALL ABOVE ANDGENERALLY PARALLEL TO THE FIRST MANIFOLD, A SERIES OF LATERAL DISCHARGENOZZLES ON SAID SECOND MANIFOLD, FLOW LINE MEANS EXTENDING FROM SAIDSECOND MANIFOLD FOR COMMUNICATION OF SAID SECOND MANIFOLD WITH A SOURCEOF PRESSURIZED FLUID FOR DISCHARGE THROUGH SAID NOZZLES, TUBE MEANSEXTENDING BETWEEN SAID FIRST MANIFOLD AND EACH NOZZLE, SAID TUBE MEANSALLOWING A DRAWING OF THE SOLVENT INTO THE NOZZLES UPON THE CREATION OFA PARTIAL VACUUM IN THE NOZZLES EFFECTED BY THE PASSAGE OF PRESSURIZEDFLUID THERETHROUGH, AND CONTROL MEAN FOR SELECTIVELY OPENING AND CLOSINGSAID FLOW LINE MEANS.